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Old 14 November 2019, 08:45 AM   #1
balmain2323
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Stupid to buy a vintage watch with service dials?

Hi I am super drawn to this watch on the Rolex website.



I look how clean and crisp it looks, which is the opposite of most vintage Rolex's. I have seen a couple of 1680's and 1675's that have clearly been serviced and updated but still have period-correct matte dials.

Would it be stupid to buy one of these watches? I know everyone says to buy the best example you can find in your budget - which seems to be the opposite approach to what I would be doing.
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Old 14 November 2019, 08:55 AM   #2
roh123
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The above example has a period correct gilt dial. The pic is probably photoshopped to some extent.

Smart or not to buy a watch with service parts? Really up to you. Value wise they will always be cheaper so don’t expect a big return. But that can be said about many other things. Personally I prefer old things that have stayed in great condition. Patina often helps the look of a watch. Not necessarily heavy patina but too white just makes it look a bit dead in my eyes.

Each to their own. Buy what you like. Not what other people think you should buy. As long as you do that and pay accordingly to the quality I don’t see how you can go wrong. Just educate yourself first before taking the plunge.
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Old 14 November 2019, 10:00 AM   #3
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I buy watches to wear, not invest. So, it would depend on whether I liked to look and feel of the watch. If the dial and hands matched and were authentic service, and the price reflected this fact, I would have no problem.

Get what you like, not what others like.
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Old 14 November 2019, 10:05 AM   #4
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Lovely watch.
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Old 14 November 2019, 10:23 AM   #5
Tools
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Nothing wrong with a watch that has been properly serviced, hardly "stupid" to buy one.

The alternative is a thrashed basket case, or a pristine original that you can't wear outside.
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Old 14 November 2019, 10:36 AM   #6
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If you want a vintage watch to wear on a daily basis, it's a pretty good option, IMO.

My pressure-tested 1980s 5513 with an RSC-fitted dial and hands . . . .
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Old 14 November 2019, 11:18 AM   #7
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It would be ill-advised to pay a stupidly high price for a vintage watch with a service dial.

But you shouldn’t let a service dial deter you.

My Bluesy has one...




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Old 14 November 2019, 11:33 AM   #8
Acidstain
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It’s not stupid, as long as the price reflects on it.


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Old 14 November 2019, 01:28 PM   #9
balmain2323
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I should have mentioned that most of the serviced 1680's and 1675's seem to be right at 10k.
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Old 14 November 2019, 02:10 PM   #10
donq
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I have a 1675 with service dial and hands. I love it.
The lume is great, and I don’t have to worry about it deteriorating or getting damaged and losing a bundle.

It’s a daily wearer, not an investment piece.
If the price is right and you want to wear it, then go for it.
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Old 14 November 2019, 02:51 PM   #11
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Would NEVER stop me at the right price.
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Old 14 November 2019, 03:46 PM   #12
MILGAUSS88
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Quote:
Originally Posted by balmain2323 View Post
Hi I am super drawn to this watch on the Rolex website.

I look how clean and crisp it looks, which is the opposite of most vintage Rolex's. I have seen a couple of 1680's and 1675's that have clearly been serviced and updated but still have period-correct matte dials.

Would it be stupid to buy one of these watches? I know everyone says to buy the best example you can find in your budget - which seems to be the opposite approach to what I would be doing.
My experience has been, vintage watches have service parts because they were abused. They are not going to look minty even with the newer parts.

Last edited by MILGAUSS88; 14 November 2019 at 03:47 PM.. Reason: ...
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Old 14 November 2019, 04:27 PM   #13
Michaeli Paulo
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Simply stunning...

Quote:
Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast View Post
If you want a vintage watch to wear on a daily basis, it's a pretty good option, IMO.

My pressure-tested 1980s 5513 with an RSC-fitted dial and hands . . . .
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Old 14 November 2019, 04:46 PM   #14
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My experience has been, vintage watches have service parts because they were abused. They are not going to look minty even with the newer parts.
I would think most service dials/hands were, rightly or wrongly, replaced/upgraded to Luminova as routine during service at RSC, rather than because the watch was abused.
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Old 14 November 2019, 04:47 PM   #15
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Simply stunning...
Thank you
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Old 14 November 2019, 05:17 PM   #16
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I would think most service dials/hands were, rightly or wrongly, replaced/upgraded to Luminova as routine during service at RSC, rather than because the watch was abused.
I agree.
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Old 14 November 2019, 06:45 PM   #17
bayerische
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I wish Rolex still produced watches like this one. The one pictured fetches quite the price today.
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Old 14 November 2019, 06:54 PM   #18
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OK at the right price. May be more difficult to sell on if you ever decide to part with it, though...
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Old 14 November 2019, 08:04 PM   #19
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Stupid to buy a vintage watch with service dials?

I agree with all the comments . The great thing is you can have a amazing daily wearer without the worry. My 6542 on a jubilee with service parts.


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Old 14 November 2019, 11:18 PM   #20
TheDude
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Or scratch the itch another way...




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Old 14 November 2019, 11:40 PM   #21
Dan S
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Or scratch the itch another way...
Well, I suppose those are better than fakes/replicas, but blatant "homage" watches are definitely not my thing. If I were going to buy an inexpensive daily wearer, I'd buy one that has its own legitimate heritage and style, like a Seiko SKX, a Hamilton Khaki field watch, or a G-Shock.
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Old 15 November 2019, 01:49 AM   #22
Cooper33
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If you think about it, what were people 20+ years ago supposed to do, right? Let's say I had a sub in 1988 and then the tritium started to yellow. To me, at that time, that meant that my watch wasn't new anymore, so I would have gladly serviced it. Hindsight of course is 20/20, but to service was actually the rule, and not the exception, in my opinion.

If my modern DSSD JC started to show any problems on the dial, I would send it to Rolex right away. And who knows, maybe in 40 years someone would be able to tell that my watch doesn't have an original dial anymore. Would I want to have a new watch with a screwed dial or hands today thinking that in 40 years it would be more valuable? To me, as long as you do your best to keep the original parts with you, it is totally fine to have newer parts on a vintage watch
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Old 15 November 2019, 02:41 AM   #23
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As others have suggested, everything has it's value and, therefore, it's price. If the price is right taking into consideration that it's a service dial, it's not "stupid" to buy it. And, at the end of the day, you should buy what you like. If it "sparks joy" for you, why not?
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Old 15 November 2019, 04:14 AM   #24
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If you think about it, what were people 20+ years ago supposed to do, right? Let's say I had a sub in 1988 and then the tritium started to yellow. To me, at that time, that meant that my watch wasn't new anymore, so I would have gladly serviced it. Hindsight of course is 20/20, but to service was actually the rule, and not the exception, in my opinion.



If my modern DSSD JC started to show any problems on the dial, I would send it to Rolex right away. And who knows, maybe in 40 years someone would be able to tell that my watch doesn't have an original dial anymore. Would I want to have a new watch with a screwed dial or hands today thinking that in 40 years it would be more valuable? To me, as long as you do your best to keep the original parts with you, it is totally fine to have newer parts on a vintage watch


Well, I knew a gentleman who purchased new and still owned a 6542. He said they were told the dials, hands, and bezel needed to be swapped out for safety. Most people did so, and what is out there today in “original” shape survived what was basically a safety recall.


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Old 15 November 2019, 09:44 AM   #25
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Not an issue for me

I just picked up a 5513 1.4M serial. It had a service dial installed by RSC in 2002. Looks awesome.
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Old 15 November 2019, 12:32 PM   #26
nolaclarky
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I love my 1675 with service dial..lume works, wear it 24/7.
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Old 15 November 2019, 01:06 PM   #27
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Original or pass...
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